Indore, April 3: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has triggered a price hike for Indore’s globally recognized namkeen, as manufacturing units grapple with surging operational expenses. Retail prices for popular snacks like ‘sev’ and ‘gathiya’ have climbed by ₹10 to ₹20 per kg, reflecting the volatility in global energy and raw material markets.
Indore serves as a primary production hub for savory snacks, housing approximately 1,500 manufacturing facilities that contribute hundreds of crores to the domestic and export economy. However, the international crisis has directly impacted the cost of commercial cooking gas and plastic packaging, essential components of the industry.
“The conflict in West Asia has made commercial cooking gas and plastic packaging materials more expensive,” stated Anurag Bothra, secretary of the Namkeen-Mishthanhan Kreta Evam Vikreta Kalyan Sangh. He affirmed that the price of packing bags has jumped from ₹190 to ₹300 per kg, while the cost of reusable plastic containers has doubled.
The industry is also facing pressure from the rising cost of edible oils used in the frying process. Manufacturers who rely exclusively on commercial gas have reported the most significant disruptions to their production margins.
Industry analysts warned that if global crude oil and gas markets do not stabilize soon, consumers could face further price escalations. The association maintained that the current adjustments were necessary to sustain the viability of the city’s small and large-scale snack enterprises.
